Award-winning author and defense analyst Norman Friedman offers a first-rate, in-depth analysis of the radically new tactics and strategy used by the United States in Afghanistan. He then sets the Afghan war in the wider context of the war against terrorism, exploring the rationale for and consequences of the September 11 attacks. Friedman asserts that the terrorists' attacks were intended to inspire a wider movement in the Muslim world that would lead to a pan-Muslim empire headed by Osama bin Laden. He argues that the attempt failed largely because of determined U.S. action and that the coalition's success in Afghanistan has moved the war on terrorism towards the realm of police and intelligence operations.

Although many books have examined September 11 and its aftermath, this work is the first to set the Afghan war in the context of an evolving U.S. tactical style that follows the new network-centric pattern and the first to use Afghanistan as a test of that pattern. The book also fully explores the contributions made by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps while fighting in the land-locked country and the importance of the use of maritime power in the future. Nor does Friedman neglect to acknowledge the role played by politics, including the ethnic politics of Pakistan. Finally, the author's careful examination of the new concepts of warfare as applied to the Afghan war provides valuable lessons to those concerned about future conflicts.

Norman Friedman is an internationally known strategist and naval historian. A monthly columnist for Proceedings magazine, he is the author of over twenty books, including the award-winning Seapower as Strategy and The Fifty-Year War.

Norman Friedman is a consultant on global naval strategy, naval trends, and naval warfare. An internationally known military technology analyst and naval historian, he worked for a decade as an advisor to Secretaries of the Navy, and for another 10 years with a leading U.S. think tank. Dr. Friedman travels the world speaking to military and defense industry leaders, and appears frequently appears on television as a guest commentator. He has authored more than 30 books, and has since the 1980s contributed regular columns analyzing world naval developments for Proceedings magazine. His PhD in Physics was earned at Columbia University.

More by this Author

U.S. BATTLESHIPS

This series offers detailed descriptions of the evolution of all classes of the principal U.S.... Read More[6]

U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

This series offers detailed descriptions of the evolution of all classes of the principal U.S.... Read More[7]

NAVAL INSTITUTE GUIDE TO WORLD NAVAL WEAPON SYSTEMS

Long recognized as the most comprehensive reference work available on the subject, this guide... Read More[8]

U.S. SUBMARINES THROUGH 1945

This series offers detailed descriptions of the evolution of all classes of the principal U.S.... Read More[9]

Related Content

Transformation a Century Ago

Navalists at the turn of the 20th century were beginning to see the oceans as highways for both... Read More[10]

Both Gulf Wars Offer Lessons

As this is written, the war for Iraq is entering its third week. At least some Iraqis are resisting... Read More[11]

Are We Already Transformed?

Despite the hand-wringing over transformation, the Navy’s history of dispersed operations... Read More[12]